The City of New Orleans will advance to a modified Stage 3 of Covid-19 restrictions beginning Friday, March 12. For the first time since the lockdown of March 2020, windblown instruments, singing and karaoke will be permitted indoors, however the hosting establishment must follow all guidelines set forth by the City and State with extensive regulations regarding air flow within a building. Additional details include:
- Live entertainment may be performed at bars, concert halls, music halls, live performance venues, and event venues following the capacity limits based on the business type.
- The restrictions include 75 percent capacity for restaurants and businesses. Bars and breweries are allowed to increase capacity to 50 percent. Religious services will also be opened up to 75 percent capacity, as long as mask mandates are followed.
- All venues must obtain a Special Event Permit or a Certificate of Registration to allow live entertainment.
- Singing, karaoke, and wind-blown instruments will now be allowed indoors, however the establishment must follow all guidelines set forth by the City and State.
- Restaurants, bars, breweries, and event venues can serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and to-go between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.
- See details on live entertainment permitting.
- See details on special events.
- Second lines and parades and dance clubs are still not permitted.
For live music venues:
- HVAC systems must provide a minimum of 6 air changes per hour (ACH) within the space occupied by the audience and performers.
- Provide at least one of the following additional mitigation measures if singing and/or wind-blown instruments are included in the performance:
- Direct air flow towards the performers/stage and away from the attendees at a minimum rate of 2,000 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM). Guidance on calculating this rate can be found in this document.
- Independent HVAC system dedicated exclusively for the performance area that provides a minimum of 6 air changes per hour (ACH).
- Use of a physical barrier, like Plexiglass, in front of sources of high-velocity aerosols including singers and wind-blown instruments.
- Require singers to wear well fitted masks, which allow for proper vowel formation while keeping the mouth and nose covered, throughout the entire performance. Require wind-blown instrument performers to wear masks with slits at the mouth to fit mouth pieces for playing their instruments only.
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